The league would have to say, leave him alone and no team can touch him. ”

Actually when a player is suspended from playing, it doesn’t matter which team.
Browner is suspended from 4 games and his new team can’t play him until that suspension is over.

]]>By: troy43mvphttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3303564
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 16:05:55 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3303564Why can’t you hold a player accountable without cutting him from the team? If he cuts the guy he is taking the easy way out and bailing on him and if he keeps him he is a hypocrite. No win. Plus the decisions are not Harbaugh’s alone. Just keeping it real.
]]>By: rl7911http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3303502
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 15:32:50 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3303502Harbaugh’s a drunk, what else would you expect.
]]>By: madroaddoghttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3303403
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 14:44:01 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3303403JH’s angry demeanor and immaturity are not a good example to his players. Trent Balke should fire him and move on. If he doesn’t the niner players will continue to be the scourge of the NFL.
]]>By: fleaman1381http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3303372
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 14:30:32 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3303372I doubt they’ll cut him because he’s too good of a player and another team WILL pick him up. Aldon Smith is a 49ers problem right now, but overall this is a league problem. A group of young men that have been adored by others because of athletic ability most of their lives. Now they have millions of dollars and months at a time where they have nothing to do but party, spend their earnings, and work out every once in a while. Some guys just aren’t responsible enough to handle that. I’ve wondered how often guys get away with terrible things because they are pro athletes and we never hear a thing about it.
]]>By: winninaintsinninhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3303255
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 13:31:49 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3303255Oh heck then Alden shouldn’t be punished. After all he “tried” to stop drinking.

In fact Thurmond shouldn’t have been suspended. He “tried” not to get caught with the 420 in his system.

In fact Krap should be handed a ring. I assume he “tried” to score BS the Ravens.

If the 49ers have a few players, (and it is only a few), that screwed up at different times that is NOT a reflection on the organization. The players are adults and they are responsible for their actions. The team is a business and they are responsible for the product they put on the field and the cost of that product versus the revenues that product generates.

Kapaernick is not found guilty of anything yet. Everything we hear and read is pure speculation.

Aldon Smith is a troubled young man who has severe emotional issues that must be dealt with. It isn’t his coach’s fault the guy can’t control alcohol.

Harbaugh, like him or not, is paid money to coach. He coaches pretty competitively too. He wants to win. He has some big time assets available to him and he uses them as he sees fit to accomplish that goal. If he was at 8-8 he’d be fired (unless he was in Dallas or Minnesota). But his team has been very successful. So give him a break.

Pete Carroll isn’t repsonsible for his players taking PEDS. This is a situation that is also speculative but is probably related to guys saying “these things worked for me why not try them guys?”

Both coaches have high performing players who may or may not be emotional problem children. The coaches are not pastors or substance abuse coordinators.

Because of league rules 49ers are not going to cut Smith unless they absolutely have to. Why give him away to another team?

The league would have to say, leave him alone and no team can touch him. The league won’t do that because he isn’t yet guilty of a damn thing in court. But if he does get convicted then he’ll have to be suspended. The league has to be the enforcer because the teams just cannot do that self policing because they are businesses.

Walk a mile in Harbaugh’s shoes and many of us would sing a different tune.

]]>By: williamwallacewouldhavebeenaraiderhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3303204
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 13:08:13 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3303204Imagine for one moment if this was the Raiders. I’m pretty sure Goodell would have stepped in. Ridiculous
]]>By: dstep24http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3303021
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 05:49:30 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3303021And Ahmad Brooks…and Chris Culliver…and Eric Wright…and Delanie Walker….and Colin Kaepernick…and Quinton Patton….dude, the “Above Reproach” thing was debunked a long time ago. Where you been?
]]>By: sclazohttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3302986
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 04:28:41 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3302986If the 49ers are going to pathetic and not discipline him then I hope the commissioner steps in and suspends him. His acts and tirades have gone on long enough.
]]>By: 7ftgriffhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3302977
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 04:15:06 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3302977First of all let me preface what I’m about to say by stating that the CBA will almost make it impossible for the Niners to cut Aldon Smith this season.

That said, I think the organization has to move on at this point, As a Niner fan I am consistently impressed by Aldon’s talent, but his off the field behavior and addictions make him a liability, and sadly for him he probably cost himself 30-40 million dollars with this instance adding on to his pending court appearances.

so, after 6-8 games missed due to suspension and playing out the rest of the season for SF, there is no way the 49ers can re-sign him.

]]>By: adderalhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3302958
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 03:49:08 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3302958His actual quote is “we want to try to be above reproach” as in try, not we are. Oh and Wright was a member of Tampa when he popped for PED use so how again should Harbaugh have punished him? This argument of which is worse is kinda funny. Their both not good, seems to be splitting hairs here.
]]>By: themackstronghttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3302945
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 03:35:22 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3302945To the 49er fans trying to defend Harbaugh’s quote he said he wants his team to be “above reproach on everything”. You don’t think he was talking about the standard of class the organization had in the 80’s and early 90’s? This team is far from it and not even winning.

Face it this off-season the 49ers felonies/crimes have turned your team into sideshow and a running joke. You think when people think legal troubles in NFL they are going to still think Bengals? 49ers took that torch with Al. Smith alone last year.

]]>By: stonedolphin89http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3302937
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 03:26:44 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3302937I gotta say, as a Washington resident this is by far my favorite rivalry (Seahawks vs 49ers). But you guys treat each other like the other is the worst fanbase in the league. Have the Jets as a rival for a few seasons and get back to me, because they’re the absolute WORST. Inflated ego even coming off of mediocre to bad seasons and no signs of improving.

Otherwise, I can’t wait to watch the Hawks vs 9ers two more times (at least) next season. It’s like two superbowls a year.

]]>By: gbmickeyhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3302907
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 02:45:08 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3302907I know you are trying to cover the organization Ranfai but 49ers didn’t sent him to rehab it was an option by the court to escape his DWI. Your team still caters to the criminals.
]]>By: 8oneanddoneshttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3302895
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 02:39:00 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3302895Harbaugh got a DUI in San Diego back when he was the coach at USD.
]]>By: ctiggshttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3302877
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 02:25:31 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3302877ctiggs says: Apr 14, 2014 5:44 PM

Please just let the season begin #goNiners #NoOnehasitbetter
————

No one has it better? I think all the teams who have actually won the Super Bowl (or multiple Super Bowls) in the last 20 years have it better.

2014-1994 = 20

]]>By: number1hawkfanhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3302869
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 02:16:16 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3302869Hmmmm…… I love hearing the argument that taking adderal is worse than being a criminal. I’m as pissed as anyone when the drug suspensions were happening but let’s be real. You got menaces to society down there in San Fran. Culliver, smith, brooks and maybe Kap have all committed actual crimes.
]]>By: 12hawksfan1976http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3302847
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 01:59:04 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3302847Niners fans: Your blowhard coach promised to be above reproach “in EVERYTHING you do.” Everything. There’s a cliche about stones and glass houses that comes to mind. You get to live with his glaring hypocrisy. And we get to laugh in your face because your moralizing coach walked into an obvious trap.
]]>By: ilovefoolsballhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3302811
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 01:38:26 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3302811They won’t be back to the NFCCG this season.
]]>By: jcbadger34http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3302805
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 01:34:32 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3302805ctiggs says: Apr 14, 2014 5:44 PM

Please just let the season begin #goNiners #NoOnehasitbetter
————

No one has it better? I think all the teams who have actually won the Super Bowl (or multiple Super Bowls) in the last 20 years have it better.

Now you are just pure D wrong. Crimes against society are by definition worse than breaking the rules of a football game, no matter how much we love football, people go to jail for crimes against society but they don’t go to jail for cheating.

We don’t know for 100% certainty what type of PED’s were used. IF ( a big if ) it was indeed Adderall, I don’t really see it as a PED and I believe that the NFL will change the category on it. It doesn’t provide more muscle or make anybody faster. All it does is improve concentration. The only difference between the people busted for Adderall and a lot of the other NFL players is that they didn’t bother getting a prescription.
Adderall is used by a large number of NFL players legally.

]]>By: mdlintonhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3302755
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 01:07:55 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3302755Laughable. If Smith is not suspended by the 49ers, that shows the level of commitment to doing what is right vs doing anything to win. Quantity or quality is what I see here.

If they did care about him as a person, they would suspend him immediately until he could show himself to be responsible and in recovery. Regardless of the talent. What does having him actively on the roster show the rest of the players on the team and in the league.

But we already know what the 49ers will do. You see the good teams stop, drop and roll when it comes to handling things like this.. Then there is the 49ers enabling the weak and committed to chaos in hopes of winning.

Good luck with that

]]>By: snoqualmkanemhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3302754
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 01:07:50 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3302754Ronfai, I think that is my point. (I believe you took my statement out of context). I don’t believe Harbaugh has any direct control over what his players do off the field. So the same should be said for Pete Carroll.
The Niners have had no league enforced discipline. True statement, however after the fact, it appears that the league should have done SOMETHING more than they did.

The niner coach, Jim Harbaugh has made a statement that he wants players to be “above reproach”. He was replying specifically to PED accusations applied to the Seahawks. However it is a logical jump that he doesn’t want his players to have various levels of brushes with the law.
When he actually is confronted with the same situation (Eric Wright) he does nothing.
When he is confronted with a similar situation (Aldon Smith) he lets him play a game before he enters rehab.
So BY HIS OWN WORDS, he does not follow what he preaches.
Seattle has not had the need to enforce further penalties because it was already handled by the league.
Many people feel the league was wrong in the penalty handed out to Browner.
Feel free to name anything that has happened in the last two years to a Seahawk that wasn’t already handled by the NFL.
As you yourself admit, you have no evidence against Pete Carroll… so give it a break until some type of evidence does appear.
Oh… one last thing. Currently the Seahawks and the Niners have the same amount of players on the team that have served suspensions for either drug use or PED use. (Two different categories). Niners have Eric Wright and the Seahawks have Bruce Irvin.
Now regarding legal issues.
Seahawks have one (Lockette), Niners on the other hand have several. CK, Chris Culliver, Quinton Patton, Aldon Smith, (multiple issues for Aldon Smith).
I hope you can see the difference between the two teams. Seattle looking much less “out of control” than San Francisco.
PS, I don’t believe that anything will come of the incident in Miami, I have to wonder why they let themselves get put in the position they did. Allowing her to use pot, makes me think that they had more to do with it than we know or will ever know.

]]>By: anarchcapitalisthttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3302706
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 00:47:26 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3302706Bad incidents for 9ers to be sure, but is it cheating like the SeaPeds! Obviously, the “above reproach” comments related to how SeaAdderal was winning. The 9ers are becoming the 2010s version of the 1970s Raiders.
]]>By: ronfaihttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3302702
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 00:44:42 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3302702@jiminauburn. The reason is comes up because this article references the quote from Harbaugh that was a response to the rash of PED suspensions going on in Seattle. It’s directly related.

No Niner fan is happy at all about what Smith is doing – he’s a grossly talented dude who’s seemingly throwing it away over bad judgement.

]]>By: ronfaihttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3302695
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 00:40:01 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3302695snoqualmkanem: I should point out that 49ers sent Aldon to rehab for 5 weeks which is far more discipline than Seattle has shown. ALL Seattle discipline was league enforced. Niners had no league enforced suspensions recently. There’s really no comparing – cheating is far worse than anything that’s happened to the Niners last few weeks.
]]>By: jiminauburnhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3302691
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 00:35:47 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3302691People keep going on about Seattle’s players cheating. Personally I would rather have a guy that got busted for using Adderal on my team than a guy with all the troubles that Smith is having.

Also, I wonder how many players on the 49ers have a prescription and league waiver for Adderal. Would be interesting to see.

]]>By: ronfaihttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/14/aldon-smith-puts-jim-harbaughs-above-reproach-stance-to-the-test/#comment-3302688
Tue, 15 Apr 2014 00:33:14 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2254678#comment-3302688snoqualmkanem: “.. others give credit to Harbaugh by saying he can’t control what his players do 100% of the time”

Are you kidding me? Are you reading the same responses I’m reading? In fact the very point of this article is to suggest there’s responsibility to be had on merit of his comment.

It makes no sense, as you or any logical person can easily gather that a coach can’t keep people from doing stupid stuff off the field in their own time.

I don’t have any evidence Peet dolled out PEDs to his players, but the evidence on hand COULD suggest that the Seattle program is responsible for a rash of negative test findings for their players. I would expect ANY system to be far more concerned with findings like that as opposed to an ill-timed rash of bad-behavior in the off season. I would EXPECT harbaugh to man up and take responsibility if his players were caught CHEATING. And the reality is the quote is about that, and not about anything else.

I stand by comment that Harb’s quote was taken out of context and not applicable to this. If any 49ers are caught cheating while ON the 49ers program (don’t care about Wright) – then I expect Harbs to man up and take responsibility.